The unfinished building on Zhongbei Road was the largest derelict construction site in Jiangzhou.
A major real estate company had once bought the land at an astronomical price, boasting that it would build Jiangzhou's tallest skyscraper. Yet halfway through construction, the company went bankrupt and its owner fled the city, leaving behind Jiangzhou's biggest stalled project.
Over the years, the municipal government had repeatedly tried to find another firm to take over the development, but for various reasons, all attempts fell through.
The building had stood abandoned ever since.
While it spoiled the city's skyline, it made for decent shelter for vagrants and homeless beggars, shielding them from sun and rain.
Early that morning, however, a group of uninvited guests stormed the building. Fierce-looking and wielding wooden clubs, they beat anyone in their path and chased every beggar and vagrant out.
On the ground floor of the derelict tower, a dozen men stood in a tight line, clubs in hand, as if waiting for someone.
Not far away, two men were talking.
One of them was Guo Shaocong.
He sat in a wheelchair, his entire body wrapped in bandages, leaving only his face exposed — looking like a mummy.
"Young Master Guo, the fifteen minutes are almost up. Will that punk actually show up?" asked a middle-aged man in his forties with a buzz cut and a terrifying scar slashing across his left cheek.
"He will," Guo Shaocong said with utter confidence. "I've got his mother in my hands. He doesn't dare not come."
Scarface glanced at Qian Jinglan, who lay unconscious on the concrete, a lewd glint flashing in his eyes. "Young Master Guo… can I ask a favor?"
"What is it?" Guo Shaocong eyed him warily. "You're not haggling for more money, are you? We had a deal — you kill Ye Qiu for me, and I pay you one million yuan. Not a cent more."
"Come on, Young Master Guo. Do I look like the kind of man who breaks his word?" the scarred man, Lei Hu, scoffed. "A million's the price. I won't ask for a penny extra once the job's done."
Confused, Guo Shaocong said, "Then what do you want?"
"I was just gonna say this," Lei Hu said, nodding at the unconscious woman. "Once we take care of that kid… can you leave her to me?"
"Brother Lei, what do you want with an old woman like her?"
Lei Hu let out a sleazy chuckle. "I've got unusual tastes. Pretty young girls don't do anything for me. But women her age? Now they're interesting."
Guo Shaocong felt a wave of disgust. What a sick pervert.
"How about it, Young Master Guo? Can I have her after we kill the kid? I'll even knock a hundred thousand off the fee — just give me nine hundred thousand."
"Stick to the original million. She's yours."
"Thanks, Young Master Guo!"
"But I'm warning you — dispose of her when you're done. No loose ends."
"You got it!" Lei Hu grinned from ear to ear.
"Where… where am I?"
At that moment, Qian Jinglan slowly opened her eyes, still dazed and disoriented.
She remembered going downstairs to buy groceries. But as soon as she stepped out, two men had grabbed her and thrown her into a van. Then…
"It's a real nice place," Lei Hu said, suddenly leaning close to her.
"Ah!" Qian Jinglan shrank back in terror at the sight of his scar. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Lei Hu leered. "Don't be scared. You're safe enough here, as long as you behave."
"Who exactly are you?" she snapped.
Seeing the dozen men standing by with clubs, she knew she was in mortal danger.
"Old woman, don't you recognize me?"
Guo Shaocong turned his head and stared at her coldly.
"D-Dr. Guo? Why are you here? What are you doing?" Qian Jinglan stared at him in shock.
"Why am I here? Hahaha — good question." He smiled coldly. "Let's be honest. I'm waiting for your precious son."
"Waiting for Ye Qiu? Dr. Guo, why?" She hadn't yet grasped what was happening.
"You'll find out soon enough." A murderous glint flashed across Guo Shaocong's face.
Qian Jinglan finally realized something was horribly wrong. She struggled and shouted, "Let me go! Or I'll call the police!"
"Call the police?" Guo Shaocong let out a contemptuous sneer. "You think you have a chance to do that in your state?"
Her hands and feet were bound tight with rope. She couldn't even stand, let alone call for help.
"Kidnapping is a crime! Do you understand that?" she shouted sternly.
"Sure we do," Lei Hu laughed. "I don't bother with things that aren't illegal."
Qian Jinglan's heart sank. She now understood everything — Guo Shaocong was here for revenge.
"Dr. Guo, Ye Qiu was wrong to hurt you. I'm so sorry. Please don't hurt him. I'll pay you compensation, I swear —"
"Compensation? You're damn right there's compensation owed." Guo Shaocong snarled. "Ye Qiu crippled me last time. Today, I'm gonna take his life as payment."
Qian Jinglan turned pale as a sheet. "Dr. Guo, please don't hurt him. I'm begging you —"
"Save your breath. You can't even save yourself right now."
Lei Hu stepped closer to Qian Jinglan and stared at her greedily.
"What… what do you want?" she asked in terror.
"Didn't notice it before, but looking closer… you're actually quite pretty. A little makeup, and you'd be a real knockout. I can barely hold myself back."
Lei Hu laughed and reached for her leg.
"Don't touch me!" Qian Jinglan screamed, scrambling backward as far as she could. "Lay a hand on me, and you'll die a horrible death!"
"Hahaha! The one who's gonna die today isn't me — it's your son. And if you don't behave, you'll die too."
With that, Lei Hu suddenly grabbed her chin and grinned maliciously. "I'd advise you to stay quiet. Be good, and once your son's dead, I'll have a little fun with you."
"Get off me!"
Furious, Qian Jinglan slammed her head into Lei Hu's chest.
Caught off guard, he fell to the ground. Enraged, he scrambled to his feet and slapped her hard across the face.
"You stupid bitch! How dare you fight back? You wanna die that badly?"
He seized her by the hair and snarled, "Once I kill your son, I'll deal with you."
At that exact moment, Ye Qiu's figure appeared in the doorway.